CHESHIRE — The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire sponsored an Easter Flower Sale to raise money to keep the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury open to the homeless on weekends during the winter months. Ajhani Ayres/ Republican-American.CHESHIRE — The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire sponsored an Easter Flower Sale to raise money to keep the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury open to the homeless on weekends during the winter months. Ajhani Ayres/ Republican-American.CHESHIRE — The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire sponsored an Easter Flower Sale to raise money to keep the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury open to the homeless on weekends during the winter months. Ajhani Ayres/ Republican-American.CHESHIRE — From left: Volunteer Alison Campbell, Lori Walling, center for human development assistant program director, a volunteer Easter Bunny, Shelley Keegan, volunteer and Cornerstone Church member at the church’s Easter flower sale, which raises money to allow the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury open to the homeless on weekends during the winter months. Ajhani Ayres/ Republican-American.CHESHIRE — Cornerstone Church member Jean Rouke purchasing flowers at a Easter flower sale sponsored by the church to raise money to keep the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury open to the homeless on weekends during the winter months. Ajhani Ayres/ Republican-AmericanCHESHIRE — The Cornerstone Church in Cheshire sponsored an Easter Flower Sale to raise money to keep the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury open to the homeless on weekends during the winter months. Ajhani Ayres/ Republican-American.

CHESHIRE – Hundreds of vehicles honked their horns as they drove past the town’s Parks and Recreation Department Saturday in support of the Cheshire Cornerstone Church-sponsored Easter flower sale, which raises money to help the homeless in Waterbury.

Resident and church member Shelley Keegan and other volunteers sold flowers in front of the center on South Main Street to help expand service hours at the Center for Human Development’s Hospitality Center in Waterbury.

Keegan said after visiting soup kitchens in Waterbury a little more than three years, ago she was compelled to put her faith into action.

“It was the number one need,” Keegan said of her observations after visiting the center. “They really have no place to go on the weekends, not place to get a hot meal.”

Some of the homeless in Waterbury sleep in abandon buildings or tents if the get kicked out or opt out of staying in a local shelter, Keegan explained.

The center provides showers, laundry service and case management among other services, as well as meals to the homeless in Greater Waterbury Monday through Friday.

According to Keegan, in its first year the flower sale raised $3,500, which enabled the center to open for eight weekends during the winter. Last year’s sales totaled $4,000 and combined with funds raised from the church’s annual pizza fundraiser, about $15,000 raised has allowed the center to open weekends from last November to April of this year.

Lori Walling, assistant program director for CHD, said the funds are greatly appreciated as they “allow us to physically open the doors.” The funds help to supply coffee, extra toiletries, utensils and hygiene products for the 40 to 50 adults that seek shelter for a few hours at CHD on the weekends, she said.

“It’s a rest pit out of the cold,” Walling said.

On Saturday and Sundays, those who show up to the center are able to watch a movie or the news and get a warm cup of coffee, as well as have a staff member link them to available services, Walling noted.

T & D Growers LLC supplied the flowers and Keegan said the owners have agreed to donate 40 percent from the sale this weekend to the cause. On Saturday there were tulips, daffodils, hydrangeas and fresh cut flowers for sale. Flowers ranged from $8 to $25. More than $800 worth of flowers were sold by midday, Keegan said.

Volunteer Alison Campbell said raising money for this cause is dear to her as she was once homeless with her then-three month old child, sleeping in Waterbury’s Library Park more than 15 years ago.

“I didn’t have family but I wish something like this was around for me back then,” Campbell said.

Resident Sharon Buchla saw the “Help the Homeless and Buy Flowers,” sign and parked her car to buy flowers to help the cause.

“I have to buy flowers so why not have it go to someone who’s in need,” Buchla said. “It’s a good cause.”

Keegan and other volunteers will be stationed at the recreation department today from 9 a.m. through 4 p.m.